How Does Your (Grandmother's) Garden Grow?

In last summer’s issue of Tatting Times, there was a pattern called “Grandmother’s Garden” made up of tiny motifs you could make by emptying shuttles. I looked at it and thought, “nah, not something I would make…” A few weeks later at the Palmetto conference, I saw Karey working on this piece, which had grown larger since the picture in the newsletter. It did look more interesting “in person” than on the printed page. Then I saw several other people there working on theirs as well. Soon after I got home, someone else emailed me a picture of hers in progress. I can only take so much watching other people having fun; so I had to join in with the thread left over from these motifs. This pattern is addictive. I went from emptying shuttles to carrying some extra wound bobbins with me as a great on-the-go project when I have just a little extra time. My piece is pretty random. Look here for Pam’s beautiful orderly interpretation. When I decide on the final size and shape, I will probably add a solid border all around.


Working in different colors can lead to a color “blip” at the site of the joins. To minimize this, pull the thread loop up toward the front side of the work, so the blip will be on the back side.

Front side

Back Side

For me, the magic thread is the only way to go with this many thread ends. If I had to sew in all these ends, well that wouldn’t happen in my lifetime. (The granny afghan on my sofa still has shaggy threads on the backside a year later.) You can use Google to find links for several tutorials and videos. A version I saw once had you just pull in the thread ends when finished with the tatting. For goodness sake, tie a knot, then hide the ends.

Karey has graciously shared the pattern here, (Scroll down to Oct 26) It’s really easy. She would like to hear how many motifs, with ends worked in, that everyone has completed by Jan 1, so if you join in, let her know.